Since the Iran war started, interest rates have returned to where they were when President Trump directed the GSEs to purchase $200 billion in MBS and most analysts say GSE reform is now off the table.

Since the U.S. initiated strikes on Iran, mortgage rates and MBS spreads have given up all the ground they gained from the Trump administration’s directive for the GSEs to purchase $200 billion in agency MBS.

The potential rule change would allow banks to redesignate MBS holdings from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale.

Fannie Mae’s retained mortgage portfolio surpassed the size of Freddie Mac’s in January, a first since 2022 as Fannie is adding to its MBS holdings at a faster rate than Freddie.

Figure Technology Solutions is working to facilitate originations and sales of first-lien mortgages, touting lower costs and modern technology compared with delivering loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The shift from senior subordinate securitizations to predominantly fully guaranteed securitizations is expected to increase revenues for Freddie’s multifamily business.

MBS holdings in the retained mortgage portfolios of the GSEs doubled between June 2025 and the end of the year. And that’s before President Trump directed them to buy $200 billion of MBS. (Includes data table.)

Republicans are poised to introduce a bill that would codify reforms of the GSEs that have been completed administratively. The bill would also establish a utility model framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and alter how calculations are made to annual changes in loan limits.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appear to be using aggressive pricing at the cash window to boost whole loan purchases, then retaining the most attractive coupons.

FHFA quietly increased the cap on the GSEs’ holdings of agency MBS from $40 billion apiece to $225 billion. That’s the same as the cap on their entire retained mortgage portfolios.